James Gunn’s Superman Finds Its Perry White in The Wire’s Wendell Pierce

The Wire alum Wendell Pierce has joined James Gunn’s Superman as Daily Planet editor-in-chief Perry White, according to a THR report today.

Perry, of course, has a close relationship to Clark Kent and Lois Lane as their typically tough but fair boss, a hard-charging journalist with strong ethical standards. Superman/Clark Kent will be played by David Corenswet in this film, alongside Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane.

A character actor with a long list of credits, Pierce is perhaps best known for his role as Detective Bunk Moreland in HBO’s acclaimed series The Wire from 2002-08. He also had a long stint on USA Network’s Suits (which has recently become a breakout streaming hit) from 2013-19. As of late, Pierce can be seen playing James Greer in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.

In past movies, Perry White has been played by Pierre Watkin in the 1948 film serial, Jackie Cooper in the 1978 Superman film and its sequels, and Laurence Fishburne in the DCEU entries Man of Steel and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. John Hamilton, Lane Smith, and Paul Jarrett have played the character on television.

Pierce’s casting is only the latest Superman news to emerge this week as the film officially begins production. Yesterday, Gunn celebrated both the start of filming and Superman’s birthday by sharing a photo from the set, and announcing that it was being renamed from Superman: Legacy.

Superman will also star Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor, appearing alongside Skyler Gisondo, Edi Gathegi, Sara Sampaio, Anthony Carrigan, Terence Rosemore, Isabela Merced, María Gabriela de Faría, and Nathan Fillion. It’s set to debut on July 11, 2025.

Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she’s not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.